The people of the Gupta Empire lived in an age of amazing progress and discovery. The wonders of the Golden Age included great art and architecture, along with great ideas.
In most other places during this time, leaders spent their energy and money waging wars with other countries to gain riches and land. The Gupta emperors were different. They supported great artists, writers, and thinkers. Their well-organized government allowed the people to live well and feel secure.
The Chinese Buddhist scholar and traveler Faxian, who visited India during the time of Chandragupta II, wrote about the freedom and good government enjoyed by the people there. Taxes were low, and punishment for crime was mild. The people seemed happy. The emperor paid his workers and provided hospitals and support for the poor. Faxian also admired that Buddhism was respected, even though the emperor was a Hindu.
